Founder of clothing firm killed in Ferrari crash

A man has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter in connection with a crash with a red Ferrari early this morning, in which another man was killed and a woman was injured, authorities said. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Ferrari hits pole, one dead

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NEWPORT BEACH — A larger-than-life character who called himself “Mask” and who helped create a mixed-martial-arts empire from the back of a van died early Wednesday when the Ferrari he was driving crashed into a light pole.

Charles Lewis Jr., 45, of Huntington Beach, the co-founder of a $100 million company called TapouT, was declared dead at the scene. The impact ripped the car in half and sent his passenger, an unidentified woman, to the hospital.

Police arrested the driver of another car, a white 1977 Porsche, on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. An on-duty officer reported seeing that driver, Jeffrey David Kirby, 51, of Costa Mesa, flee the scene after his Porsche was involved in the crash.

Kirby has a history of driving violations, including a 2002 conviction for driving under the influence, court and Department of Motor Vehicle records show. He was being held in lieu of $2 million bail.

The police officer who witnessed the crash reported seeing the Porsche driving next to the Ferrari on Jamboree Road, near Eastbluff Drive, according to the Newport Beach Police Department. The two cars appeared to spin out of control, possibly after colliding, police said.

The Ferrari jumped the curb and then slammed into the light pole. The officer reported seeing the Porsche stop briefly, and then drive away, police said.

Police found a white Porsche with moderate collision damage a few blocks away, and stopped a man and woman who were walking away from it. They later identified the man as Kirby. They arrested his passenger, Lynn Marie Nabozny, 32, of Newport Beach, on suspicion of public intoxication; she was later released.

Skid marks on the road pointed the way to the crash site. The Ferrari - a 2004 Modena likely worth around $140,000 - was cut in two, its rear coming to rest more than 30 feet away from its front. The unidentified woman who was riding in it as a passenger was thrown from the car; her condition was not known late Wednesday, but police described her as stable.

Police were still investigating the cause of the crash late Wednesday. A stretch of southbound Jamboree Road was closed for much of the day.

The county coroner's office confirmed late Wednesday that the victim was Lewis and listed his city of residence as Huntington Beach.

“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we must regretfully confirm the passing of our beloved friend, brother and co-founder Charles ‘Mask' Lewis,” read a statement issued by TapouT. “Many thanks to all for the outpouring of blessings.”

Lewis founded TapouT in the late 1990s with a friend, Dan Caldwell, better known as Punkass. They lived out of a van, following mixed martial arts fights around California, hawking their T-shirts and fight gear.

Lewis was a former Marine and had worked for the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department, according to Jeff Sherwood, a friend and founder of a popular mixed martial-arts Web site. Lewis had a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but never entered the ring as a professional mixed martial arts fighter, Sherwood said.

Instead, he designed and marketed shoes, T-shirts, shorts - and sold an appreciation for the caged-fight combat of mixed martial arts. He put on face paint and styled himself “Mask,” a marketing move that TapouT would later compare to the white-faced weirdness of rock band Kiss.

The company's Web site describes him as “the militant face responsible for the TapouT brand and lifestyle” and as a “cultural revolutionary.” It warns: “You'll definitely never catch him off guard - instead, Mask will prey on you.”

But Lewis showed a gentler side in a message to visitors on the site. “Life is full of influences,” he wrote. “It's your application that sets you apart.”

“Just take a step towards your belief daily,” he wrote, “fearlessly, wholeheartedly, digging and dreaming within yourself, believing that as you push on through sacrifice, you will one day stand alone on top of a hill that you created that now encourages and inspires others to chase their dream.”

He signed the message, “Mask.”

His fortunes - and those of the company he helped found - rose with the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts. TapouT's press releases now describe it as a $100 million company that operates “without concern for competition because (it's) been at the forefront of Mixed Martial Arts since its inception.”

The company, based in San Bernardino, sponsors Mixed Martial Arts fighters - paying out six-figure sums. The sports channel Versus produced a reality series for two seasons that followed the TapouT crew as they searched for fighters to sponsor.

Company officials did not return phone calls seeking comment Wednesday. But co-founder Dan Caldwell - “Punkass” - posted a note on his blog late in the day. “To my best friend in the world,” he wrote, “you'll be forever missed, but always remembered. RIP Mask.”

A man has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter in connection with a crash with a red Ferrari early this morning, in which another man was killed and a woman was injured, authorities said. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Newport Beach Police stands gaurd over the scene of the back half of a red Ferrari crashed into a light pole in Newport Beach early today. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
From www.tapout.com, "It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we must regretfully confirm the passing of our beloved friend, brother and co-founder Charles "Mask" Lewis (center) following a car accident that occurred last night. We are currently in the process of setting up a memorial service in his honor and will release more details as they become available." www.tapout.com
Newport Beach Police investigaters work on the front half of a red Ferrari crashed into a light pole in Newport Beach today, killing the driver and injuring a passenger on Jamboree Road near Camelback Street was reported just before 1 a.m., according to a Newport Beach Police Department lieutenant in Newport Beach, Wednesday morning, March 11, 2009. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Newport Beach Police investigate the back half of a red Ferrari crashed into a light pole in Newport Beach today. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Newport Beach Police investigates a red Ferrari that crashed into a light pole in Newport Beach today, killing the driver and injuring a passenger on Jamboree Road near Camelback Street in Newport Beach. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Parts from the crash scene show the center console and a crushed "No Parking" sign on the scene of the crashed red Ferrari. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Investigators look over the front half of a red Ferrari that crashed into a light pole on Jamboree Road near Camelback Street in Newport Beach. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Charles "Mask" Lewis, founder of TapouT clothing, a San Bernardino County company that makes clothing affiliated with Mixed Martial Arts, was killed in a crash early Wednesday according to TMZ.com and MMA fan Web sites. www.tapout.com
Early this morning Newport Beach police investigate a red Ferrari that crashed into a light pole, killing the driver and injuring a passenger on Jamboree Road near Camelback Street. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Newport Beach Police investigates the front half of a red Ferrari. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Newport Beach Police investigaters call in the fire department to help with the front half of a red Ferrari crashed into a light pole in Newport Beach today. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Parts off the back half of a red Ferrari that crashed into a light pole show the passenger door and seat, rocker panel and a shoe of a victim. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A man has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter in connection with a crash with a red Ferrari early this morning, in which another man was killed and a woman was injured, authorities said. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This photo, taken in 2005, pictures a Ferrari Modena, the same model that was involved in a fatal crash this morning at the 73 and Jamboree Road. Ruby Washington, The New York Times
Newport Beach Police Lieutenant Craig Fox answers questions for television media. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Police Lieutenant Craig Fox answers questions for the media at NBPD Headquarters after a red Ferrari crashed into a light pole in Newport Beach. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Newport Beach Police Lieutenant Craig Fox answers questions for local reporters. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Newport Beach Police Lieutenant Craig Fox gives details for the media at NBPD Headquarters after a red Ferrari crashed into a light pole in Newport Beach. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Newport Beach Police Lieutenant Craig Fox answers questions for a radio reporter on the steps of NBPD Headquarters. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A statement from TapouT clothing confirmed that the man killed in a Wednesday morning crash of this Ferrari in Newport Beach is the clothing line's founder, Charles "Mask" Lewis. COURTESY OF MARK C. HAMILTON
TapouT clothing founder Charles "Mask" Lewis was killed early Wednesday in a car crash in Newport Beach. A Costa Mesa man, Jeffrey David Kirby, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter. A police officer reportedly witnessed him fleeing the scene of a collision in a white Porsche. COURTESY OF MARK C. HAMILTON
The interior of a 360 Modena Ferrari. The model was produced from 1999 to 2004. Courtesy of Ferrari North America
The 360 Modena was produced as a coupe or a convertible. The cars can launch from zero to 60 in just under 4.5 seconds. Courtesy of Ferrari North America
The 360 Modena was powered by a 400 horsepower, 3.6 litre, 40-valve, 8-cylinder engine. Courtesy of Ferrari North America
The 360 Modena has a top speed of around 186 mph. Courtesy of Ferrari North America
The 360 Modena has a top speed of around 186 mph. It was produced from 1999 to 2004. Courtesy of Ferrari North America
The 360 Modena has a top speed of around 186 mph. It was produced as a coupe and a convertable. Courtesy of Ferrari North America

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